Are there any Saints for children with birth defects such as cleft lip. My son will be confirmed within the next 2 yesr( or 3) and we were wondering this. He was born with a cleft lip/palate. Thank you, dorothy Garrett

Answer by David Gregson on 12/6/2012:

Blessed Herman (1013-1054) was born with a cleft palate, spina bifida, and cerebral palsy in Swabia, Germany. Herman’s parents put their son into the care of the abbey of Reichenau, where Herman lived for 40 years. While there, Herman became a monk and wrote a poem about deadly sins, a mathematical-astronomical treatise, and two anthems to the Virgin Mary, “Alma Redemptoris Mater” and “Salve Regina” (“Hail Holy Queen”). (From http://www.examiner.com/article/profile-patron-saints-of-children-with-disabilities/ See also http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-herman-the-cripple/)